Plasmodium mutant and vaccines including the mutant

Abstract

The invention relates to the production of new Plasmodium mutants which are defective in the expression of the protein P36p. These mutants are unable to cause malaria, yet they can be used as vaccine, giving long lasting protection against infections with wild-type Plasmodium.

1. A mutant of  Plasmodium  wherein expression of protein P36p has been disrupted. 
     
     
       2. The mutant of  claim 1 , wherein said disruption has been achieved by complete or partial deletion of the gene coding for said protein P36p. 
     
     
       3. The mutant of  claim 1 , in which further the expression of one or more proteins selected from the group consisting of P36, upregulated in infective sporozoites 3 (Uis3) and upregulated in infective sporozoites 4 (Uis4) has been disrupted. 
     
     
       4. The mutant of  claim 3 , wherein said disruption is achieved by complete or partial deletion of one or more of the genes coding for proteins selected from the group consisting of P36, Uis3 and Uis4. 
     
     
       5. The mutant of  claim 1 , wherein said mutant is a mutant of  Plasmodium falciparum  or  Plasmodium berghei.    
     
     
       6. An immunological composition comprising the mutant of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       7. A vaccine for prevention of malaria caused by a species of  Plasmodium  comprising a sporozoite mutant of said species of  Plasmodium  wherein expression of protein P36p has been disrupted, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an optional adjuvant. 
     
     
       8. The mutant of  claim 1 , which further comprises a heterologous antigen.